20 MAMMALS OF THE PACIFIC WORLD 



The Marsupial "Mice" (Phascogale, Dasyuroides, and allies) 

 live chiefly on insects, but they may also eat flesh and some veg- 

 etable matter. They are the size of rats and mice, nine to six- 

 teen and one-half inches in total length. The tail is three and 

 three-fourths to eight inches long, usually less than the length 

 of head and body, but in some species it is equal to this or 

 slightly longer. The snout is long and pointed, and the tail in 

 some species is densely haired, as in tree shrews. The females 

 of some species have pouches. Those of others have poorly 

 marked folds of skin around the area of the mammse. In certain 

 species of Sminthopsis, one of which is found in New Guinea and 

 the Aru Islands, the thickened tail serves for storage of fat. 

 One genus (Antechinomys), which has developed long legs, hops 

 like a jumping mouse. The New Guinea marsupial mice are less 

 varied and specialized than those of Australia. 



Banded Anteaters. Family Myemecobiid^ 



The banded anteater {Myrmecohius) is a specialized rela- 

 tive of the marsupial "cats." Externally it resembles a long- 

 snouted ground squirrel. Its rather harsh coat is colored bright 

 rufous brown above and whitish beneath. On the back, parallel 

 to the ribs, is a series of six or seven white stripes. It has long 

 claws but does not make burrows. The tongue can be extended 

 far out of the mouth. Myrmecohius is peculiar in possessing 

 more than the usual number of teeth; an extra molar can be 

 seen in each jaw. No pouch remains; the nipples are four in 

 number. The food consists principally of termites which are 

 swallowed whole. 



This beautiful little animal is now found only in southwest- 

 em Australia and appears there to be threatened with extinc- 

 tion. A second species which occurred in Victoria and New 

 South Wales has not been seen for many years. 



Bandicoots. Family Peramelid^ 



The bandicoots have in general long, narrow feet with long 

 claws, tapered, pointed snouts, and rather short tails. The 



